Rowing bilge pump

ABSTRACT

A pump that is composed of a bladder ( 1 )( 7 )( 8 ) for pumping fluid by alternately compressing and expanding the bladder. The bladder has at least one input connector ( 2   a ) with a one-way valve ( 3   a ) therein and at least one output connector ( 2   b ) with a one-way valve ( 3   b ) therein, in order to provide one-way flow of fluid through the bladder. The pump (illustrated by “B front view”) is positioned to be acted upon by the driving force of a human foot or foot with shoe pushing down on the bladder ( 5 )( 5   a ) to compress the bladder. Working in conjunction with the bladder, but not necessarily part of the fluid pump, is a fixed surface ( 6 ) to hold the bladder and repel the driving force. The bladder expands by resuming its normal shape after the driving force has been removed. This expansion causes the bladder to re-fill with liquid that is in turn expelled by another cycle of manual force. The device is primarily intended for removing water (bilge) from a recreational rowing boat while leaving the hands free for other tasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention concerns the pumping of fluids from a to a fluid container by means of a pump apparatus and, in particular, relates to the pump apparatus being driven by human power.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] The use of fluid pumps having flexible wall(s) which are driven in a repetitive manner for moving fluid is illustrated, for example, in the following references which are incorporated by reference herein:

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 238,639, issued to Boemer on Mar. 8, 1881 and entitled “Air Pump”, discloses in FIG. 3 a pair of pump bodies in a vertical position having an inlet valve f and an outlet valve g having a one-way valve therein. A flexible wall in each of the pump bodies faces the other and a cam causes pivoting of arms E to press on the flexible walls, alternately, to cause air to be pumped into or through the pump bodies. As noted in this patent, the flexible walls C are biased in the expanded position as made so that when the flexing arm E is removed, the flexible walls will expand themselves and draw in fluid through an input one-way valve. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate another embodiment wherein a horizontal pump body A has a single flexible wall which is biased inwards of the pump body A. As the pump body A rotates about the horizontal axis, weighted balls force the flexible wall outwardly which draws in air through one of a pair of one-way valves. As the pump body rotates the flexible wall to the vertical position, the wall returns to its naturally biased position forcing out the air. The pump is designed to pump air into a water tank from outside.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,849, issued to Guilmette on Aug. 20, 2002 and entitled “Fluid Pump” utilizes a pair of bladders rather than a single bladder. The invention also utilizes a flexure plate (FIG. 32) for pumping fluid by alternately compressing and expanding the bladders. The bladder is a bellows-type pump (FIG. 18). The bladders have at least one input connector with a one-way valve and at least one output connector with a one-way valve, in order to provide one-way flow of fluid through each of the bladders. Rather than being acted on by manual force, the pump (FIG. 10) is positioned to be acted upon by a moving liquid, such as natural wave action of a body of water, for example, by being connected to floating objects on the surface. The moving liquid causes a flexure plate to bend in an undulate manner, first in one direction and then in the other. This bending action causes fluid to be alternately drawn into and expelled from the bladders as the bladders are alternately expanded and compressed. Primarily intended as a bilging system, one end of the flexure plate of the pump (10) may be attached to a stable object such as a dock and the other end to a floating object such as a boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Generally, the present invention provides a pump for pumping a fluid by action of a mechanical force applied by a human operator that imposes a repetitive driving force on the pump with a foot/feet or shoe/shoes. The pump comprises at least one bladder which is attached to a fixed plate which is sufficiently stable to act as a foundation to support the driving force which causes the liquid-filled bladder to collapse. This collapsing of the bladder forces fluid out of the bladder. The bladder is composed of a material or materials which is/are sufficient to cause the bladder to rebound to its original shape after the driving force is removed. The pump further has at least one fluid input connector operably connected to the bladder with a one-way valve therein, or down line, to admit fluid into the bladder upon expansion of the bladder and at least one fluid output connector operably connected to the bladder and having a one-way valve therein, or down line, to pass fluid out of the bladder upon compression of the bladder whereby the repetitive driving force causes the bladder to compress and recover in a manner which causes the bladder connected thereto to be repetitively expanded and contracted to pump fluid.

[0008] These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the related drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] View “A” Item (1) illustrates a top view of the bladder with input fittings and hoses installed

[0010] View “B” is a font view of the full pump assembly; Items (3 a) and (3 b) indicate the one-way input and output valves, Items (2 a) and (2 b) indicate the input fittings, and Item (4) indicates a filter attached down line from the input side of the bladder.

[0011] View “C” illustrates the pump in its intended functioning environment; Item (5) indicates a foot or shoe, Item (1) indicates the bladder with input fittings and hoses, and Item (6) indicates the fixed surface opposing the manual force;

[0012] View “D” illustrates the first modified form of the invention (bladder integrated into shoe); Item (5 a) indicates the shoe, Item (7) indicates the integrated bladder with fittings and hoses exposed, and Item (6) indicates the fixed surface opposing the manual force;

[0013] View “E” illustrates the second modified form of the invention (bellows style bladder); Item (5) indicates a foot or shoe, Item (8) indicates the bellows bladder with input fittings and hoses, and Item (6) indicates the fixed surface opposing the manual force.

SPECIFICATION AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

[0014] Referring to View “B”, a pump of the present invention includes at least one flexible bladder being mounted on a top side of a fixed surface (6) for pumping fluid by compression and expansion of the bladder in an alternating manner. The bladder (1) is made of a flexible material like rubber. The shape of the bladder may be rectangular, cylindrical, oval or other shape and is preformed and biased to that preformed shape. The fixed surface will normally be the foot stretcher section of a rowing boat. The foot stretcher section of a rowing boat being the place that holds the rower's feet in place. Although any other type of fixed plate or hull bottom can perform the same function.

[0015] The pump can be mounted in a variety of angles between the shoe/foot (5) of the rower and the fixed surface. In other words, the input/output connectors to the bladder may exit the between the rower's shoe/foot (5) from the bottom (heel), sides, or tops (toe). View “C” illustrates an input/output arrangement from the bottom (heel) of the foot/shoe (5). A preferred input/output arrangement would exit at one of the two sides of the foot/shoe in order to avoid any devices which prevent the shoe from detaching from the fixed surface, or detaching from the fixed surface completely (e.g. shoes bolted at the toe, or top area, of the shoe/foot (5) to the top of the fixed surfaced; and/or the tie-down from the heel of the shoe/foot to the fixed surface which prevents the heel from rising a certain distance away from the fixed surface).

[0016] The bladder (1) has one fluid input connector (2 a) and a fluid output connector (2 b). The fluid input connector and the fluid output connector may include therein one-way valves, not shown in greater detail, but are of conventional design, so that fluid flows through the bladder (1) only in one direction. The one-way valves may be attached to the hoses that are mounted onto the fluid input connector (3 a and 3 b) and the fluid output connector and therefore may not be a part of the pump of the present invention although they are required for the present invention to function properly. The end of the hose connected onto the fluid input connector is fitted with a filter (4) and is placed in a first position for taking in water from the bottom of the boat to prevent clogging of the invention by dregs from the bottom of the boat. The other output hose placed in a second position somewhere outside of the boat so that the water may be purged from the crew cockpit.

[0017] A view of the pump (8) is shown in View “E” wherein a chamber is formed by a bellows style bladder. The bladder may be formed in the configuration shown and may be self-supporting, but other devices may be used to provide support to the bladder such as a flexible wire structure or spring (which can be seen coiled within the bladder) shown inside (8)

[0018] Views “C” and “E” illustrate an the attachment of the bladder to the fixed surface (6).

[0019] The attachment may be achieved with hardware, such as a bolt or staple; however, the preferred method of attachment would involve Velcro-style patches to facilitate installation and removal of the pump and to provide for additional weight savings.

[0020] Referring to View “C” the pump (1) is placed onto the fixed surface (6) between the fixed surface and the shoe/foot (5). The shoe/foot (5) moves up and down as a result of the normal rowing sequence involving use of the legs. Views “C” and “E” illustrate the shoe/foot (5) in a lifted position indicative of the recovery portion of the rowing sequence. This relieves pressure from the bladder (1)(7)(8), which causes the bladder to expand. This expansion draws water into the bladder via an input connector, valve, hose and filter (4). View “D” illustrates the shoe/foot (5) in a down position indicative of the stroke portion of the rowing sequence. This portion of the rowing sequence involves a great deal of pressure being applied by the rower through his/her legs. The subsequent compression of the bladder (1)(7)(8) causes the water to be expelled from the output connector, valve, and hose.

[0021] The one-way valves operate upon a liquid or air and thus priming of the pump is not required. Vacuum is maintained in the bladder (1) in order to continually draw liquid, air, and liquid combined with air, through the pump.

[0022] Two alternative embodiments, Views “D” and “E”, are illustrated

[0023] The alternative illustrated in View “D” illustrates an evolution of the pump wherein the bladder (1) has been integrated into the shoe (5). Essentially the function of the bladder and the invention is unchanged. However, its placement within the shoe may provide additional weight and space savings as well as reducing the parts necessary to operate the invention. Note that, in this embodiment, the hoses and valves may need to be re-located in order to clear the rising and falling of the rower's shoe/foot (5). View “D” illustrates hoses exiting from the rear of the shoe. However, a practical application of the invention may require that the input/output connectors be placed near the front of the shoe to avoid conflict with the rising and falling of the rower's shoe/foot (5).

[0024] View “E” illustrates a coiled spring contained within a bellows-style bladder (8) in order to enhance the water volume capacity of the invention. Such a rebound assist device may also be composed of a wire or other materials that would cause the bladder to rebound. Such a rebound assist device can also be integrated into any other shape or style of bladder to obtain the same volume enhancing effect.

[0025] While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific preferred embodiments thereof, numerous modifications to these specific embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the foregoing description; such modifications are embraced within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump for pumping a fluid by action of a moving liquid which imposes a repetitive driving force on the pump, the pump comprising: one bladder (connected to a fixed surface); at least one fluid input connector operably connected to the bladder and having a one-way valve therein to admit fluid into the bladder upon expansion of the bladder; and at least one fluid output connector operably connected to the bladder and having a one-way valve therein to pass fluid out of the bladder upon compression of the bladder; the bladder being configured so that repetitive manual driving force (human foot or foot/shoe) causes the bladder to be repetitively expanded and contracted to pump fluid.
 2. The pump of claim 1 wherein the bladder is formed by a closed receptacle which is expandable and compressible. The receptacle resumes normal shape when the manual driving force is removed. The receptacle is composed of material(s) that will provide the impetus for resuming its normal shape when the manual driving force is removed.
 3. The pump of claim 1 wherein the manual driving force is human power.
 4. The pump of claim 1 wherein the manual driving force repetitively compresses the bladder.
 5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the bladder further comprises fluid input and output means.
 6. The pump of claim 1 comprising at least one bladder, the bladder being attached to a fixed surface, whereby the bladder is compressed by a human operator.
 7. The pump of claim 1 wherein a bladder is created by a flexible receptacle, the flexible receptacle being supported by a fixed surface to maintain the bladder in a predetermined location to be acted upon by the manual driving force.
 8. A method of pumping a fluid utilizing a flexible bladder which is flexible enough to collapse in response to a manual driving force, at least one bladder connected to a fixed plate, at least one fluid input connector operably connected to the bladder and having a one-way valve therein to admit fluid into the bladder upon expansion of the bladder and at least one fluid output connector operably connected to the bladder and having a one-way valve therein to pass fluid out of the bladder upon compression of the bladder, the bladder being configured so that repetitive collapse and recovery connected thereto to repetitively be expanded and contracted to pump fluid, the method comprising compressing the bladder with human force and the bladder resuming normal shape with the removal of force thereby deflating and inflating the bladder repetitively to alternately expand and contract the bladder to thereby impose a pumping action on fluid alternately taken into and expelled from the bladder.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the liquid is a body of water
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the driving force is provided by foot action of the operator.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising connecting the pump between the operator and a fixed plate
 12. The pump of claim 8 wherein the driving force repetitively causes the driving object to operate on the bladder to alternately expand and contract. 